If you’re looking to kick-start your acting career in Chicago by learning the craft here’s a list I compiled. The list includes not only schools/universities that can give you a degree in the arts, but also if you’re just looking to take acting classes when you can’t afford a 4-year degree then this list also includes great schools for that.
Remember also that classes at your local high school, community theater, or community college is the best place to start. View Best Acting Schools in Other Cities
Chicago
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Chicago Colleges/Universities
Columbia College Chicago is a school of the arts that offers a variety of programs for acting students. The school offers an undergraduate BA or a BFA in Acting. If you already have a bachelor’s degree you can pursue an MA or MFA in Acting and Contemporary Performance Making. This is one of the most well-known schools for film. Visit Their Website
DePaul offers a BFA in Acting which is a 4-year program with courses for on-camera or stage. Acting techniques taught here are: Grotowski, Spolin, Stanislavski, and Suzuki. Visit Their Website
UIC also offers 4-year programs with a BA in Theatre & Performance or BFA in Acting. Like other universities it also has a wide range of techniques that are taught including: Brecht, Ibsen, and Stanislavski. Visit Their Website
Roosevelt offers a BFA in Acting program in which you must be accepted to get in and gets you into the Theatre Conservatory of the Chicago College of Performing Arts. Members are guaranteed on-stage experience. The program teaches various techniques including: on-camera, circus arts, combat training, Stanislavski, dance and voice. Visit Their Website
Chicago Acting Schools
Vagabond offers a wide variety of affordable training programs including: On-Camera, Theatre, Business of Acting, Kids/Teens Program, Camps, Private Coaching, Intensives and Workshops. Their workshops vary throughout the year and includes workshops such as: On-Camera Comedy, Agency Prep, Theatre Scene Study, Guest Star Role Scene Study, and they even had a masterclass on-camera with Monica Raymund from Chicago Fire. The school offers Taping services for auditions as well. Visit Their Website
The Green Room Acting Studio offer the following programs: Screen Acting (on-camera), Voice Acting, Acting for Kids/Teens, and The Practice where you work on your craft by actually acting with weekly assignments and peer workouts. Visit Their Website
Considered one of the oldest acting schools in Chicago it also offers an array of affordable programs. The main one being Acting as a Craft. Other programs offered are: The Actor & The Camera, Audition Power: On-Camera & Self-Tape, Voice & Movement, Directing, Improv Technique, The Method International Workshop, Acting in Film, and classes for kids/teens.
Black Box although newer than other schools is renowned for its Academy program, which is an intensive conservatory program that runs for 100 days. It also offers the following programs: The Studio, Melanin & Meisner, Young Adult Training, Coaching and Taping Services. Visit Their Website
This legendary school is famous for its improv training program and its alumni such as: Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Mike Myers, Chris Farley, Tim Meadows, Bonnie Hunt, Stephen Colbert, Halle Berry, Sean Hayes, Amy Sedaris and Jon Favreau just to name a few. It offers a variety of both Adult and Kids/Teens programs. They include: Improv, Writing, Stand-Up, Storytelling & Public Speaking, Directing & Producing, Music, various workshops & intensives, TV Film & Digital Writing & Production, and of course ACTING. They also have a Conservatory and a Music Conservatory.
If you’d like to suggest another school to add to this list or the list of another city, please Contact Us and let us know. Thanks!
